Elevator control and annunciator system



y 1935. w. c. MILES 2,009,701

ELEVATOR CONTROL AND ANNUNC IATOR SY S T E M Filed July 3, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR 244:. M

July 30, 1935. w c. MILES 2,009,701

ELEVATOR CONTROL AND ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEM Filed July s, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24! 261 W 161 242 25511: Z31 zaa'fl 5 Z30 0 INVENTOR M yam @404.

Patented July 30, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ELEVATOR CONTROL AND ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEM William 0. Miles,

Application July 3, 1

14 Claims.

This invention relates to elevator control and annunciator systems. a

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved control and arinunciator 5 system which will so function as to enhance the efiiciency of present-day elevator service.

Other and more specific objects of the invention are as follows:

To provide means for automatically effecting an audible announcement peculiar to the next floor at which the elevator car is to stop as such car assumes a definite position relative to that floor in its travel toward the same.

To provide means for automatically effecting an audible announcement incident to the stopping of the car at a given floor and indicative of the direction in which the car will next proceed away from that floor.

To provide means for automatically rendering the first mentioned means inactive immediately prior to the operation of the second mentioned means and for maintaining the first mentioned means inactive during the operation of the second mentioned means; for automatically rendering the second mentioned means inactive immediately prior to the departure of the car from a floor at which a stop has been made; and for automatically restoring the first and second mentions incident to the departure of the car. from a floor at which a stop has been made, whereby the first and second mentioned means are conditioned for operation with respect to the next floor at which the car is to stop.

Further objects and advantages of the lhVention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. i is a diagrammatic view of the system embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section oi a commutator or switch mechanism;

. Fig. 3 is an end view of the commutator as seen from the right in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a selectively actuated reflector unit associated with a plurality of film loops bearing recorded subject mat ter to be selectively reproduced;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the refiector unit;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line B6 of 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged iragmental horizontal sectional view of the reflector unit, the bottom wall tioned means to their respective normal condi-.

White Plains, N. Y.

931, Serial No. 548,545

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a reproducer circuit adapted for use in association with a plurality of metal ribbon-like elements bearing recorded subject matter to be selectively reproduced, and

Fig. 10 is a view in peripheral-face elevation of a disc carrying thereon one of the metal ribbonlike elements of Fig. 9.

Although the annunciator features of the present invention are not limited for use in association with any particular type of elevator control systems, they are herein shown and described in connection with a control system of the type shown and described in United States reissue patent, H. F. Parker, No. 16,297, dated March 23, 1926, and characterized by a master control switch [0, carried by the car II and adapted to actuate a pole-changing switch l2, by which the car motor l4 may be so operated as to cause the elevator car to move vertically in one direction or the other through the instrumentality of the usual hoisting mechanism l5 to which the motor is operatively connected.

The master control switch includes a shaft 5, to which is secured a hand lever and on which is loosely mounted a pair of switch arms, namely, an up switch arm and a down switch arm it, adapted to be moved into closedcircuit positions, respectively, to the right and to the left, by :2. lug positioned intermediate the same and carried by said hand lever. These switch arms are movable independently of each other and are adapted to be returned to their normal positions against a fixed stop-lug by a coil spring 22, which encircles a stationary hub or bearing 2 within which the shaft i5 is jewnalled, the spring 22 being provided with arms which engage the respective switch arms is and 58', as shown. Secured to the shaft i6 is a safety switch 25, which includes a. contact plate 26, adapted to engage contacts 2i and 2? as the hand lever l? is moved respectively to the left and to the right.

When it is desired to start the car it in an upward direction, the hand lever ii is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, whereby the switch arm 18 is moved into engagement with a pair of up contacts 28. Upon bridging the contacts 28, a circuit is established from a main supply conductor 30 through a holding magnet 31 by way of branch conductors 32. and 34, the latter of which is connected to a main return conductor 35. At the instant of closing the circuit just described, the holding coil 3Ia of the holding magnet 3I' is energized to hold the switch arm I8 in closed-circuit position. Bridging of the gap between the contacts 28 alsocloses a circuit through the up solenoid 36 of the pole-changing switch I2 by way of the conductor 32 and a conductor 31, in the latter of which the winding of the up solenoid is disposed. Upon closing this latter circuit, the up solenoid 36 is energized,'with the result that the switch arms 38 and 40 of the pole-changing switch are moved from their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 1, into engagement with up contacts 4| and 42, respectively, thereby closing the circuit of the motor I4 from the conductor 30 by way of conductor 44, conductor 45, conductor 46, up contact 4|, switch arm 38, post 41 to which that switch arm is pivotally connected, conductor 48 leading to one brush of the motor, conductor 50 leading from the other brush of the motor, post 5I to which the switch arm 40 is pivotally con nected, the switch arm 40, up contact 42, and branch conductor 52 leading from that contact to the main return conductor 35. Upward movement of the car may be manually stopped by moving the hand lever H to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, a suflicient distance to bridge the contacts 21 by the contact plate 26. Bridging of these contacts closes a circuit through a neutralizing coil 3") of the holding magnet 3I by way of conductors 54 and 55, with the result that the holding efiect of the coil 3 la is sufliciently neutralized to permit the spring 22 to return the switch arm I8 to its normal position, thereby opening the motor circuit and stopping the car.

When it is desired to start the car in a down direction the hand lever I1 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby carryin the switch arm I8 into bridging engagement with a pair of down contacts 28 Upon bridging the contacts 28', a circuit is established from the main supply conductor 30 through a holding magnet 3! by way of branch conductors 32' and 34', the latter of which is connected to the main return conductor 35. Upon closing the circuit just described, the holding coil 3Ia' of the holding magnet 3! is energized to hold the switch arm I8 in closed-circuit position. Bridging of the gap between the contacts 28' closes a circuit through the down solenoid 36 of the polechanging switch i2 by way of the conductor 32 and a conductor 31', in the latter of which the winding of the down solenoid is disposed. Closing of this latter circuit energizes the down solenoid 36', causing the switch arms 38 and 4B of the pole-changing switch to move into engagement with the down contacts 4! and 82', respectively, thereby closing the circuit of the motor id from the conductor 36 by way of conductor 44, conductor 45, contact 42', switch arm 49, post 5i, conductor 56, conductor 46, post 41, switch arm 38, contact 4i .and the conductor 55 leading therefrom to the main return conductor 35. Downward movement of the car may be manually stopped by moving the hand lever H to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, a .sumcient distance to bridge the contacts 21' by the contact plate 26. Bridging of these contacts closes a circuit through a neutralizing coil 3th of the holding magnet 3i by way of conductors 54' and 55', with the result that the holding effect of the coil 3Ia is sufficiently neutralized to permit the spring 22 floors 3, 2 and I.

to return the switch arm I! to its normal position, thereby opening the motor circuit and stopping the car.

The control system thus far described may be regarded as a primary one in association with which is shown a four-floor secondary control system, including a plurality of control means forautomatically decelerating and stopping the car at the floors for which the control means are operated in the natural order or the floors, though such control means are operated out or such order.

The secondary control system herein shown includes a commutator or switch mechanism 56, of the type known as the Smalley and R einers commutator shown and described in Patents Nos. 634,220 of October 3, 1899 and 826,752 .of July 24, 1906, which is characterized by a rotatable worm shaft 51, driven indirectly by the motor I4 and adapted to operate in synchronism with the movement of the car II. This commutator also includes, in so far as the secondary control system is concerned, a pair of contact strips 58 and 60. With the contact strip 58 is associated "up contacts 21;, 3a and 4a and down contacts 3d, 2d and Id, the up contacts corresponding respectively to floors 2, 3 and 4, and the down contacts corresponding respectively to floors 3, 2 and I. With the contact strip 60 is associated "up contacts 2a, 3a, 41; and down contacts 3d, 2d, Id, the contacts 2u', 3a and 411, corresponding respectively to floors 2, 3 and 4, and contacts 3d, 2d and Id corresponding respectively to With the contact strips 58 and 60 are associated contact brushes BI and 62, respectively, which are supported by an arm 63, connected to a screw-threaded hub 54 carried by the worm shaft 51. When the car is moving in an up direction, the position of the brushes BI and 62 will be such, as shown in Fig. 3, as to progressively connect the up contacts 211., 311. and 41!. to the contact strip 58 and to likewise connect the contacts 211., 3a and 4a to the contact strip 60. As the car begins its downward movement from the uppermost floor, the brushes 6| and 62 will assume a position to progressively connect the contacts 3d, 2d and Id to the contact strip 58 and to connect the contacts 3d, 2d and id to the contact strip 60.

The secondary control. system further includes a plurality of control switches, namely, 2f and 2f, located at the second floor landing, and 3i and 3f, located at the third floor landing, the switches 21 and 3f being adapted to control the car in its upward movement, and the switches 2f and 31' being adapted to control the car in its downward movement. These switches may be of any suitable manually-closed and electrically-opened type, and are herein illustrated as respectively including a pair of spring contacts 65 and 61 between which the iron shank portion of a push button 68 may be moved by a prospective passenger to electrically connect such contacts.

The spring contacts 56 of the up switches 2f and 3! are connected to the main supply conductor 35 by a branch conductor Iii which, in turn, is connected to the contact segments 41; and 4a by conductors H and 72, respectively, and the contacts 67 of these switches are connected,

respectively, to the contacts 2a and 32L by conductors M and E5. The spring contacts 66 of the down switches 2;" and 31* are connected to the main supply conductor 30 by a branch conductor M, which in turn is connected to the contacts Id and id by conductors II and 12', re-

spectively, and the contacts 01 of. these switches are connected, respectively, to the down contacts 2d and 3d by conductors 14' and 15'.

Disposed around the shank portion of the push buttons 68, are solenoid windings 16, 11, 16' and 11' corresponding to the switches 21', 3!, 2f and 3!, respectively. These windings are adapted, when energized, to so act on the shank portions of the respective push buttons 68 as to move them to open-circuit position under conditions of operation which will hereinafter more clearly appear. The windings 16 and 11 are disposed in conductors 18 and 19, respectively, which are connected to the branch conductor 10 and are in turn connected to the "up contacts 2n and 3a. The windings 16' and 11' are disposed in conductors 18' and 19', respectively, which are connected to the branch conductor "10' and are in turn connected to the contacts 2d and 3d.

Located within the car II, are a plurality of control switches 02 and 03, which are identical to the floor switches above described. The spring contacts 66 of these switches 02 and ca are connected to the conductor by a branch conductor 10", and the spring contacts 61 of these switches are connected to conductors 14" and 15", respectively, which lead, respectively, to pairs of switches 82u, 82d and 83a, 83d. The solenoid windings 16 and 11" of these respective switches are disposed in conductors 18" and 19", respectively, which are connected to the branch conductor 10" and are in turn connected, respectively, to pairs of switches 82a, 82d and 8311, 83d. The stationary contacts 85 of these switches are carried by vertical panels 86 and 81, of insulating material, associated with the commutator 56, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, and the mov able contacts 88 of these switches are carried by a pair of shiftable contact supports 90 and SI,

of insulating material, pivotally connected to oppositely disposed arms 92 carried by a friction hub or hearing 94, mounted on one end of the shaft 51. The frictional relation of the bearing 94 to the shaft 51 is such that the supports 00 and 9| are, respectively, raised and lowered to their po siticns shown in Fig. 3 as the shaft begins to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in that figure. Conversely, as the shaft 51 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, the supports 90 and SI are, respectively, lowered and raised. From an inspection of Fig. 3, it will be understood that the switches 82a, 83a, 82a and 83a, which may be termed up selector switches, are closed the instant the shaft 51 begins to rotate in a clockwise direction incident to the ascent of the car and that the switches 02d, 83d, 82d and 83d, which may be termed down selector switches, are opened simultaneously with the closing of the up switches. Likewise, it will be understood that the converse is true, namely, that the down switches will be closed the instant the shaft 51 begins to rotate in a counter clockwise direction incident to the descent of the car, and that the up switches will be opened simultaneously with the closing of the down switches.

Leading from the contact strip 58, is a conductor 95, which is connected to the main return conductor 35 and in which is disposed the winding 95 of a switch-control or holding magnet 91. Connected to the contact strip 60, is a conductor 98 in which is disposed a pair of neutralizing coils I00 and I00, associated respectively with the holding coils 3 Ia, 3 Id of the holding magnets 3| and 3I. This conductor 98 is but insulated from, a pivo-' and in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1,

when the switch magnet 01 is energized by a current flowing, under certain conditions of operation, through the conductor 95 to which the other of said contacts IN is connected.

If desired, a suitable resistance B. may be connected across a pair of terminals I 06, to which the conductors 44 and 45 of the main motor circuit are connected. Under certain conditions of operation, as for example when the car is proceeding past a series of floors at which no stop is to be made, this resistance R is maintained short circuited and out of the motor circuit, inasmuch as the upper contact-end of the switch arm I04 is maintained in short-circuiting engagement with the contacts I06 at that time. Under other conditions of operation, as for example when the car moves into a definite position relative to a floor at which a-stop,is to be made, this resistance is introduced into the motor circuit, inasmuch as the switch arm then so moves as to disengage at least one of the contacts I06.

The secondary control'system hereinbefore described is admirably adapted for use in cooperative association with the automatically controlled annunciator means next to be described. This will be readily appreciated from an inspection of Fig. 1, wherein the commutator 50 is shown as including an additional contact strip I01, with which are associated a plurality of record-selecting contacts 2a, 3a, Iu, 3d", 2d", and id", corresponding respectively to floors 2, 3, 4, going-up, and 3, 2 and I, goingdown. Of these contacts, those indicated by the reference characters 216" and 2d" are electrically connected together, as shown in Fig. 1, and this is also true of contacts 31L" and 311'. It will be noted that the foregoing record-selecting contacts are of the same length as the contacts 214, 3a, 4a, 311, 2d and Id, hereinbefore described; are respectively correspondingly located; and are adapted to be electrically connected to the contact strip I01 in the order named by a contact brush I08, which is similar to the previously mentioned brushes BI and 62 and is carried by an arm I09, connected to the screw-threaded hub 64 which is carried by the screw-threaded shaft 51 of the commutator 56. The contacts Id, 2a", 3a and 41/, are connected to a conductor IIO, by conductors III, H2, H3 and H4, in which are respectively disposed the windings of a plurality of shutter-actuating solenoids H5, H6, H1 and H8 hereinafter more particularly described. The conductor H0 is connected to a spring contact I20, disposed adjacent a similar contact I2 I, which is connected by a conductor I22 to a pivotally supported relay switch arm I24. This switch arm is normally held by a tension spring I 25 in engagement with a contact I26 which is connected by a conductor I21, to a switch terminal I28, located adjacent a similar terminal I30, connected to a battery I3I, or other suitable source of current, which in turn is connected by a conductor I32 to the contact strip I01 of the commutator 5B. As to the switch terminals I28 and I30, it will be noted that they are so located with respect to the switch arm I04 that they may be electrically connected to each other by the lower end of that am as it is moved about its pivot by the magnet 91.

With the shutter-actuating solenoids H5, 1 I6, H1 and H8 are associated aplurality of holding switches H5, H6, H1 and 8' respectively. Each of these switches include a stationary contact I34 and a movable spring contact I35, as shown in Fig. 7. The contacts I35 are adapted to be moved into engagement with the contacts I34 as the respective solenoids II5 to H8 are energized, and to this end the cores I36 of these solenoids are provided with contact shanks I31 of non-magnetic material which are so moved, when the cores are moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 7, as to engage the contacts I35 and thereafter 'spring them into circuit-closing engagement with the contacts I34. The contacts I34 of the switches M5 to 8' are connected respectively to the conductors III to H4 by conductors I38, and the companion contacts I35 are connected by conductors I48 to a holding-circuit conductor I, which is connected to the conductor I22 at a point intermediate the contact I2I and the switch arm I24. I

Associated with the switch arm I24, is a magnet I4I, which, when energized, moves that arm out of engagement with the contact I26 to open the circuit of which the conductors I22 and I21 form a part. As such circuit is opened by the switch arm I24, a pair of contacts I42 and I44 are electrically connected to each other by a contact plate I45 carried by, but insulated from, said switch arm. The contact I44 is connected to the conductor I32 by a conductor I46, in which is disposed a suitable resistance R, and the contact I42 is connected by a conductor I41 to a conductor I48, which is connected to the conductor I21 and in which is disposed the winding of the magnet MI. The conductor I48 leads to a plurality of contacts I50, with which are associated similar contacts I5I, connected by conductors I52 to a conductor I54 which is connected to a spring contact I55. Associated with the spring contact I55 is a similar contact I56, which is connected to up and down" switches I51 and I58 by way of a conductor I60 and its branch conductors I6I and I 62, in which branch conductors, respectively, are disposed the windings of a pair of shutteractuating solenoids I64 and I65, identical with the solenoids II5 to I18 hereinbefore mentioned.

The up and down switches I51 and I58, which are associated with the commutator 56, include, respectively, contacts I66, I61 and I68, I19, the contacts I66 and I68 being connected to the branch conductors I6I and I62, respectively, and the contacts I61 and I being connected to a conductor. I1I, which, in turn, is connected to the conductor I32, leading to the battery I3I. These upand down switches I51 and I58 further comprise circuit-closing brushes I12 and I14, which, just as the car lands at the first fioor going down, are adapted to move into closedcircuit and open-circuit positions, respectively, and which, just as the car lands at the uppermost floor, are adapted to move into open-circuit and closed-circuit position, respectively. These circhit-closing brushes I12 and I14 are carried by a longitudinally movable rod I15, the squared end portions of which are slidable in a pair of suitably supported guides or bearings I16 and I11. Secured to the rod I16 are a pair of horizontally disposed arms I18 and I86, with the former of which a depending arm I8 I, carried by the screwthreaded hub .64 of the commutator, is adapted to engage as the car moves into approximate landing position at the first floor, and with the .latter of which'horizontally disposed arms said depending arm is adapted to engage as the car' moves into approximate landing position at the uppermost floor. By reason of the relation of the arms I18 and I80 to the arm I8I, it will be understood that the switch I51 will be closed and the switch I58 will be opened immediately prior to the landing of the car at the first floor and that the switch I58 will be-closed and the switch I51 opened immediately prior to the landing of the car at the uppermost floor, thus conditioning the circuits controlled by these switches for proper direction announcements under all conditions of car operation, as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

Associated with the shutter-actuating solenoids I64 and I 65, are holding switches I64 and I65, respectively, which are identical with the holding switches II5 to H8 hereinbefore described, the stationary terminals of the switches I64 and I65, as shown in Fig. 1, being connected, respectively, to the conductors I6I and I62 and their movable terminals being connected to a holding-circuit conductor I82, connected to the conductor I54, which, upon opening any one of the elevator shaftway doors I84, is connected to the conductor I48 by way of the particular contacts I59 and I5I which are associated with such door and are maintained electrically connected together by the door from the instant it reaches a predetermined point in its opening movement until it reaches that same point in its closing movement.

The annunciator means, shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to 8 inclusive, includes a film-driving motor I85, operatively connected to a shaft I86, carrying a pair of discs I81 and I88, of insulating material, provided, respectively, with metal contacts I90, as shown in Fig. 8, by which the'contacts I2I, I20 and I55, I56 may be electrically connected and so maintained during such time as is required for the respective discs to complete only a part revolution. The shaft I36 is operatively connected to a suitably supported film-driving shaft I9l, adjacent to which and in a parallel relation thereto is disposed a suitably supported idle shaft I92. Secured to the shafts HI and I92 are a plurality of pulleys or sprockets I94 and I95, respectively, about which pass endless films I96-to 2!, respectively, carrying recorded subject matter to be audibly reproduced under conditions of operation hereinafter more particularly described. Inasmuch as the films I96 to I99 inclusive correspond to floors I to 4 inclusive, the recorded subject matter carried by these films may be respectively, for example, first floor, second floor, third floor and fourth floor, and the recorded subject matter of films 266 and 2M may be respectively goingup and going-down, the records 262 of the several films being conventionally illustrated by the parallel lines thereon of varying width. As to all of the films I96 to 26I, it will be noted that they travel in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 4, that they are so positioned on the pulleys or sprockets I94 and I95 that the starting points of the records are correspondingly located, and that the respective records terminate at a substantial distance from the starting point thereof, thus leaving a blank film area 264 intermediate opposite ends of the respective records.

The front reaches of these records, as viewed in Fig. 4, are adapted to travel through a reflector unit 295 by which selective reproduction of the subject matter of the records 262 may be eifected in a manner hereinafter more particularly described.

The reflector unit 265 comprises a light box 266, divided into a plurality of lamp compartments 261, 266, 269, 2"), 2H and 2I2, within each of which is located an exciter lamp 2, the exciter lamps being connected in parallel, as shown in Fig. 5, to a suitable source of constant current, not shown, such as a battery. Suitably located at the front of the respective lamps 2I4, is a suitable optical system 2I5, by which light rays from the respective lamps 2 may be directed onto the several films I96 to IM in the form of a narrow beam as the films are guided past these optical systems by suitable guides 2I6. The driving connection between the motor I85 and the films I96 to 26I is such that each of these films is driven once throughout its length, for each rotation of the shaft I66, it being noted that the contacts I96 of the discs I61 and I66 are so located that they move into engagement with the contacts I2I,- I26 and I55, I56 at such time as the blank film areas 264 pass in front of the optical systems 2I5. In front of the films I96 to 26I, is disposed a vertical panel 2" provIded with slots or openings 2I8, through which light rays emitted by the exciter lamps 2 and directed on the films by the optical systems 2I5 may pass into a reflector compartment 226, the inner 'walls of which are preferably highly polished so as to serve as reflecting surfaces for the entering light rays. Suitably Joumalled in the upper and lower walls of the reflector compartment 226, are a plurality of vertical shafts 22I which are disposed adjacent the vertical These shafts are provided at their lower ends with crank arms or levers 222, which are Pivotally connected to the horizontally movable cores I36 of the respective shutter-actuating solenoids II5 to H8 and I64 and I65. connected to the shafts 22I, are a plurality of shutters or reflectors 261' to 2I2', inclusive, both surfaces of each of which are highly polished. These reflectors are normally held flat against the panel 2II by suitable springs 223, associated with the shafts HI and adapted to also normally maintain the cores I36 of the shutter-actuating solenoids in retracted positions. As will hereinafter more clearly appear, the reflectors 261' to 2 I 2' are selectively moved to operative position, namely, at an angle of 45 to the beam of light passing through its corresponding film, the remaining shutters being at that time held in closed positions over the remaining openings 2I6 so as to exclude, from the reflector compartment 226, light rays passing through the rev maining films.

Associated with the reflector unit 265, is a suitable audio frequency amplifier 224, which includes a suitable light-sensitive cell, such as a photo-electric cell 225. This photo-electric cell is disposed partially within the reflector compartment 226, so that its entire window area 226 may be subjected to light rays that are diverted toward such cell by any one of the reflectors 261' to 2 I 2' that may be moved to its operative position of 45 heretofore mentioned. The amplifier 224 is connected by a pair of conductors 221 to a sound reproducing device 226, suitably located within the elevator car I I andadapted to respond to electrical impulses transmitted to it from the amplifier 224, whereby the recorded subject matter of the records 262 may be audibly reproduced.

Instead of employing films of the type herein- Suitably I9I is provided with a plurality of discs or drums 236, corresponding in number to the number of films hereinbefore described. These drums are of insulating material and are adapted for the reception of tape-like record-bearing elements 23I to 236 of steel or iron of uniform density, on which subject 'matter, for example the subject matter referred to in connection with the records 262 of the films I96 to 26I, respectively, may be recorded in a manner described in United States Patent No. 1,152,562, granted to J. C. Sherman, September '7, 1915. As to these-tape-like recordbearing elements, it will be understood that they are so located on the drums 236 that their opposite ends are spaced from each other, leaving correspondingly located gaps 231 therebetween, the gaps being left for the purpose described in connection with the blank film areas 264 of the films I96 to 26I.

Suitably supported adjacent the tape-like record-bearing elements 23I to 236 are a plurality of T-shaped pole-pieces 238 to 243 of the type shown and described in United States Patent No. 1,218,234 granted to M. L. Severy, March 6, 1917, with which pole-pieces are associated voice coils 238'- to 243, within the circuits, hereinafter more particularly described, of which are induced current impulses as the records borne by the tapelike elements 23I to 236 move past the respective adjacently disposed pole-pieces under certain conditions of operation hereinafter more particularly stated. As disclosed in said Patent No. 1,152,562, the records may be formed on the tapelike elements by a suitable etching process, so as to produce, with respect to such elements, varying cross-sectional areas; and, as further explained in that patent, the tape-like elements, if of steel, may be permanently magnetized throughout after the records have been produced thereon, in which case the pole-pieces 238 to 243 would be of unmagnetized soft iron; or, conversely, the tape-like elements may be of unmagnetized soft iron, in which case the pole-pieces would be of permanently magnetized steel. The voice coils 238 to 243' are adapted to be conheated in parallel with the primary winding of an audio-frequency transformer 244 by selectively actuated switches 245 to 250, which are normally held open and are adapted to be moved into closed-circuit position by the magnets 25I to 256, inclusive, corresponding, respectively, to the solenoids II5 to H8 and I64 and I65. Associated with the magnets 25I to 256 are a plurality of normally open-circuit holding switches 25! to 262, which are adapted to be moved into closedcircuit position by such magnets and correspond, respectively, to the holding switches I I5 to H8 and I64 and I65. The circuits of the windings of the magnets 25I to 256 and of the holding switches 25'! to 262 are identical, respectively, to the circuits of the windings of the solenoids II5 to II 6 and I 64 and I 65 and to the circuits of the holding switches H5 to H8 and I64 and I65, as will be readily understood from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 9, wherein similar reference characters are employed to indicate like parts of corresponding circuits or parts thereof. As to the transformer 244, it will be noted that the secondary winding thereof is connected in the grid circuit 26d of an amplifying thermionic tube 265, which, alone or in association with as many stages of amplification as are deemed necessary, serves as an audio-frequency amplifier to which the sound reproducing device 223 may be suitably connected. In describing the operation of the system, it will be assumed that the car it is at the first floor, ready to begin its upward travel, and that the doors 886 are closed, and that the switches led and 525 are positioned as shown in Fig. l, to which positions they were respectively moved as the car approached the first floor in its last downward movement and as the door 58% for that floor was opened. Also it will be assumed that the pole-changing switch i2 is in its neutral position, as shown, and that thepush button of the up control 3 at the third floor has been moved into closed-circuit position to stop the car at that floor in its upward movement.

Under the above assumed conditions of operation, the operator moves the control lever ill to the right and as a result the switch arm is bridges the contacts 28, whereupon a holding circuit is established from the conductor 3@ to the conductor 35 by way of the conductor 32, contacts 28, switch arm it, the holding coil 38a of the holding magnet 3i and the conductor 3%.

Current flowing through this circuit will energize the holding coil am, so that the arm 88 will be held in closed-circuit position by the holding magnet 3i until the third floor is reached. Upon bridging the contacts 28, another circuit is established from the conductor 30 to the conductor 35 by way df'conductor 32, contacts 28, arm i8, and conductor 3'3, in which the winding of the solenoid 36 is disposed. As a result of current flowing through this circuit, the solenoid 36 is energized, causing the arms 38 and iil to move into engagement with the contacts M and 32, respectively, whereupon a circuit is closed from the conductor 363 to the conductor 35 by way of the conductor 54, resistance R, conductor 65, conductor 65, contact ii, arm 38, post ll, conductor 58, motor i l, conductor 5t, post 5!, arm lt, contact d2 and conductor 52. Upon closing this cir-- fcuit, the motor id is operated in a direction to cause the car it to ascend. At the instant the car begins to ascend, the commutator brushes 6t, 62 and H38 move to their respective positions shown in Fig. 3, and likewise the arms 92 so move as to close the up switches 82a, 83a, 8211. and 8311, and open the down switches 33d, 82d, 83d and. E3211. As the brush t2 disengages the contact Ed, the circuit through the conductor 98, the coils m6 and H88 thereof, contacts mi, contact plate Hi2 and the winding 96 of the holding magnet 9? is opened, whereupon the switch 11841 is so moved, under the influence of the spring the, as to connect the contacts 606, thereby short-circuiting the resistance R, and at the same time open the circuit of the battery iti, whereupon the magnet Ml is :leenergized and the switch we is returned, b;, the spring 525, to its normal position against the contact E26. As the circuit brush 5! with the contact 31;, a circuit is established from the conductor 30 to the conductor 35 by way of conductor EB, spring contact (it of the up control 3f, the shank portion of push button $8 of that control, spring contact 6? of that control, conductor l5, contact 31L, brush 5i, contact strip 58, conductor and the winding 95 of the magnet 97, whereupon the switch IE5 is so moved as to place the resistance R in the motor circuit and to connect thecontacts H28 and ESQ. As the switch ifl moves into closed-circuit position, the contactplate it? bridges the contacts till, with the result that just as the car moves into thirdfioor position a circuit is established between conductors 3t and 35 by way of the conductor it, conductor 59, the winding ll of the up control 31", contact 3a, contact strip Bil, conductor e8, neutralizing winding B8B, contacts Nil, contact plate N12, and the winding 96 of the magnet Ql. Current flowing through this circuit serves to energize the winding ll of the up control 3f, with the result that the circuit through the winding of the magnet 97 by way of the conductor 95 is opened after the holding circuit through the winding 9% of the magnet at has been closed by way oi conductor 98, contacts HM and the contact plate 5492. It is to-be noted also that current flowing through this circuit, namely, the circuit which includes conductor 98, energizes the neutralizing coil mt, with the result that the holding efiect exercised on the arm M3 by the holding coil 3 la is neutralized so as to permit such arm to return to its normal position under the influence of the spring 22. As the arm i8 moves out of engagement with the contacts 28, the circuit of the solenoid 36 is opened, thus permitting the pole-changing switch 92 to assume its open-circuit position, as shown, with tance of travel of the car in its approach to a given floor and the same distance of travel in its departure from that floor, the reason for such relation being apparent from the fact that it is desirable to energize the neutralizing coils Hid, Hit, and so maintain them, only when the car is in the immediate vicinity of the floor at which a stop is to be made. Upon engagement of the brush H08 with the contact to", which takes place simultaneously with the engagement of the brush M with the contact 31, a circuit is closed from one side of the battery Nil to the other side thereof, as the contact I96, see Fig. 8, moves into engagement with the contacts 920 and H25, by way of contacts E28, E30, switch arm ma conductor i217, contact iZB, switch arm I24, conductor l22, contact 52!, contact 9! contact E20, conductor H0, conductor H3, the winding of the solenoid ill, brush "38, contact strip lll'l, and conductor 32. The instant this circuit is established, the core E36 of the solenoid i i1 is so actuated as to move the shutter 209 to a position corresponding to the position of the shutter 20'! shown in Fig. 7. As the core I36 of the solenoid M1 is moved, the switch H'l is closed, so as to establish a holding circuit for the winding of the solenoid M1 by way of the conductor MI and. the

light rays emitted from the conductors I40 and I38, Connected, respectively, to the contacts I35 and I34 01' the holding switch I IT. The instant the shutter 209' is so moved.

as to assume its operative position, which, as heretofore explained, can only happen at such time as the blank or unrecorded area 204 of the film I98 is infront of the optical system 2I5, lamp 2| 4, associated with that film will be reflected into the lightsensitive or photo-electric cell 225, and as the record 202 of the film moves into a functioning relation to the optical system 2I5, the light rays that are directed into the photo-electric cell will vary in accordance with the particular record so that the subject matter thereof, such as third fioor, will be translated into electrical impulses which areamplified by the amplifier 224 to a suflicient degree to enable the sound reproducing device 228 to audibly respond thereto and thus impart the intended announcement to the passengers of the car. This announcement is repeated as. many times as the announcement period will permit, which period begins with, or substantially with, the instant gages the contact 31L" and ends with the instant the third-floor gate I84, in being moved from its closed to its open position, bridges its associated contacts I50 and I5I. Upon opening the thirdfioor gate to a given extent, depending upon the position at which its associated contacts I50 and I5I are set with respect to the closed position of that gate, such contacts are bridged, with the result that as the contact I90, see Fig. 8, of the disc I 88 moves into engagement with the contacts I and I56, a circuit is established through the battery I31 by way of contacts I28, I30, switch arm I 04, conductor I21, conductor I48, the winding of the magnet I4I, .the third-floor gate I84, its associated contacts I50, I 5I and its associated conductor I52, the conductor I54, contact I55, contact I90 of the disc I88, the contact I56, conductor I60, branch conductor I 6|, the winding of the solenoid I64, switch I51, which was closed as the car approached the first floor inits last descent, the conductor I 'II, and the conductor I32. Upon closing this circuit, the winding of the magnet MI is energized, with the result that the switch contact I25 to open the circuit of the solenoid III, of which solenoid-circuit the conductor I22 forms a part, whereby the shutter 209' is returned to its closed position under the influence of its associated spring 223, and the switch I I1 is permitted to open by reason of the inherent resiliency of its contact I35. The instant the switch I24 moves out of engagement with the contact I26, the contact plate I45 of that switch bridges the gap between the contacts I42 and I44, with the result that a holding-circuit for the magnet I H is established through a portion of the conductor I48, the conductor I4I, contacts I42, I 44, contact plate I45, conductor I46 and resistance R, for maintaining the magnet I4I energized, whereby the circuit, of which the conductor I22 forms a part, is maintained open while the third floor gate is open and while the car, after that gate has been closed, is traveling a suilicient distance away from that floor to cause the brush I08 to disengage the contact 3u". Such openoircuit maintenance of the circuit, of which the conductor I22 forms a part, insures that the floor announcement made preparatory to the stopping of the car at the third floor will not be repeated after the gate has been closed preparatory to the further ascent of the car. Substanthe brush I08 en- I24 is moved out of engagement with the tially simultaneously with the opening of the circuit, of which the conductor I22 forms a part, and substantially simultaneously with the closing of the shutter 209', the solenoid I64 is energized so as to cause its core I36 to move the shutter 2" to operative position. As the core of the solenoid I64 is actuated, the holding switch associated with that solenoid is closed to establish a holding circuit through the winding of the solenoid by way of the conductor I82, its branch conductor I40, to which one terminal of that switch is connected, and the conductor I38, to which theother terminal of that switch is connected. By reason of the relation of the contact I90, of the disc I88, to the blank area 204 of the film 200, the circuit of the solenoid I64 will be closed, and consequently, the shutter 2I I will be moved to its operative position, only at such time as said blank area is in front of the optical sys tem 2I5 associated with the film 200. As the blank area of the film 200 moves out of its position in front of the associated optical system 2| 5, and as the record 202 of that film moves into a functioning relation to such optical system, the intensity of the light reflected by the shutter 2I I into the photo-electric cell 225 will vary in accordance with the record, with the result that a corresponding variation in the current of the circuit of the sound reproducing device 228 will be efiected, so as to cause such device to so respond to the record as to audibly announce to the passengers of the car, as well as to prospective passengers at the third floor, the subject matter of the record 202 of the film 200, which subject matter may be, for example, going up. Upon closing the third floor gate, the circuit, of which the conductor I48 forms a part, is opened, whereupon the solenoid I64 is deenergized, with the result that the shutter 2II' is moved to its closed position under the influence of its associated spring 223 and the associated holding switch I64 is permitted to open by reason of the inherent resiliency of its spring contact I35. Upon opening this circuit the announcement corresponding to the record 202 of the film 200 is discontinued, but the previously energized circuit functioning to cheat the previously described third floor opened by reason of the fact that the holding circuit, which includes the conductors I46 and I41 and was established the instant the switch I24 was so moved as to bridge the contacts I 42 and I44, remains efiective until the gap between the contacts I28 and I30 is opened, which does not happen until the car II has moved a sufiicient distance past the third floor to permit the brush 62 to disengage the contact 31L, thereby opening the holding circuit of the magnet 97 by way of the conductor 98. The instant the holding circuit of the magnet 91 is opened, the spring I05 retracts the switch I04, thus opening the holding circuit of the magnet I at the contacts I28,

I30; and the instant the holding circuit of the magnet I is opened the spring I25 retracts the switch I24, the retraction of the switches I 04 and I24 being preparatory to the entrance of the car into the next floor zone.

As to the car switches c2 and 03, it will be understood that when the car is going-up they are connected in parallel only with the floor switches 2 ,f and 3f, respectively, through the switches 82a, 83a, 82a, and 83a, and that they are then capable of functioning the same as the up switches located at the floors.

' parture of As the car apprcrachesthe uppermost floor, which is the fourth'fioor in the example herein shown, the recorded subject matter of the record 202 of the film I99, corresponding to that floor, is reproduced in a manner described in connection with the record of the film I98, for the reason that the contact 411. is connected to the conductor 3G by way of conductors ill and H; and the car is automatically stopped at that floor, as previously described in connection with the third floor, because of the fact that the contact iu is connected to the conductor by way of conductors iii and 72. Moreover, it will be noted that the switch Q53 will be closed and the switch it? will be opened at some instant subsequent to the dethe car from the third floor and prior to its arrival at the fourth floor, with the result that when the gate i185 at the fourth floor is opened, the subject matter, such as going-down, of the record 232 of the film 266 will be reproduced in the manner described in connection with the reproduction of the subject matter of the record of film 288, which, by reason of the opening of the switch it? immediately prior to the arrival of the car at the fourth fioor, is rendered inefiective, the reproducing means being maintained efiective, although not continuously operative, with respect to the recorded subject matter of the record of the film 2M until such time as the switch 558 is opened and the switch it? is closed, which does not occur until the car passes the second fioor in its descent.

Inasmuch as the operation of the system is substantially the same, when the car is descending, as described in connection with the ascending travel, it is deemed unnecessary to enter upon a lengthy description of the operation of the system under conditions incident to the descending travel of the car, except, possibly, to mention the fact that the down controls if and 3]" function to the exclusion of the up controls 2] and 3); to mention that the car-carried controls 02 and C3 are connected in parallel with the down controls 2f and 3f, respectively, through the switches 826, Stat, 82d and 3311' which are closed the instant the car begins its descent from the fourth floor and simultaneously with the opening of the switches 82a, 83a, 82a, 83a; to mention that as the car moves past the second floor the subject matter of the record of the film W6, corresponding to the lowermost floor, will be automatically reproduced, in the manner described in connection with the reproduction of the subject matter of the rec- 0rd of film I99, corresponding to the uppermost floor, by reason of the fact that the contact id is connected to the conductor 38 by way of conductor iii and H; to mention that the car is automatically stopped at the first floor, in the manner previously described in connection with the fourth fioor, by reason of the fact that the contact id is connected to the conductor 30 by way of conductor 16' and i2; and to mention the fact that the recorded subject matter, going-up, of, the record of film 200 will be reproduced to the exclusion of the recorded subject matter of the record of film 2!, upon the opening of the door 58 at the first floor, inasmuch as the switch it? is closed and the switch W8 is opened subsequent to such time as the car passes the second floor in its downward movement and prior to such time as the car reaches the first floor.

It will be noted that the system herein described is inherently such that when the car is automatically stopped at a given floor the neutralizing coils I00, I00 and the magnets 97 and ME ordinarily remain energized until the car has proceeded a short distance away from that floor in its next movement of travel. Under certain conditions, as for example when it is desired to lay up the elevator for an over-night period, it might be desirable to deenergize said. coils and said magnets, upon deenergization of which magnets the switches m4 and iZQ are permitted to return to their. normal positions, namely, opencircuit'positions with respect to the pair of contacts NH, and M2, M 5, respectively, and to this end a normally closed switch 266 may be interposed in theconductor 98 and located within the car. As to this switch, it will be noted that if it is so actuated as to open the circuit, of which the conductor 98 forms a part, the neutralizing coils ma, W8 will be deenergized and. the circuit through the winding of the magnet 9i will be opened, whereupon the switch 9% will move to open-circuit position with respect to'the circuit of the battery ISl, and as this battery circuit is opened the magnet Mi will be deenergized, thus permitting the switch H2 3 to move to its opencircuit position with respect to the contacts [Hi2 and Hi l. Moreover, it will be understood that suitable switches, not shown, may be interposed in the circuit of the exciter lamps 2M, in the circuit of the film-actuating motor H85, and in such circuit or circuits of the amplifier 22 3 as may be deemed advisable.

Concerning the modified form of reproducing circuit, shown in Fig. 9, it is believed that its operation will be readily apparent in detail from the herein-contained description of that circuit, particularly when considered in connection with its already-described fundamental principle of operation and in connection with the detailed description of the operation of the system shown, particularly in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made with respect to the embodiment or embodiments of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope .of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving a plurality of floors; a sound reproducing device carried by said car; a car control including means operable to stop the car at any floor; a plurality of floor sound records, one for each fioor; record-selecting means automatically, actuated in response to the car stopping operation for any floor to select the floor record corresponding to such floor; and impulse transmitting means for reproducing the subject-matter of the selected record through said sound reproducing device.

2. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving ajplurality of floors; a sound reproducing device carried'by said car; a car control including means operable to stop the car at any floor; a plurality of floor sound records, one for each floor; record-selecting means automatically actuated in response to the car stopping operation for any floor to select the floor record corresponding to such floor; and impulse transmitting means automatically actuated in response to the car-stopping operation for reproducing the subject-matter of the selected record through said sound reproducing device.

3. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving a plurality of floors;

a sound reproducing device carried by said car;

a car control including means operable to stop the car at any floor; a plurality of fioorsound records. one for each floor; a pair of direction sound records, one for up movement of the car and the other for down movement of the car; record-selecting means automatically actuated to select the floor record corresponding to any floor for which car-stopping operation has been initiated and for selecting a direction record corresponding to the direction in which the car will proceed away from such floor; and impulse transmitting means for first reproducing the subject-matter of the selected floor record and then the subject-matter of the selected direction record through said sound reproducing device.

4. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving a. plurality of floors; a sound reproducing device carried by said car; a car control including means operable to stop the car at any floor; a plurality of floor sound records, one for each floor; a pair of direction sound records, one for up movement of the car and the other for down movement of the car; record-selecting means automatically actuated to select the floor record corresponding to any floor for which car-stopping operation has been initiated and for selecting a direction record corresponding to the direction in which the car will proceed away from such floor; and impulse transmitting means automatically actuated in response to the car-stopping operation for first reproducing the subject-matter of the selected floor record and then the subject-matter of the selected direction record through said sound reproducing device.

5. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving a plurality of floors; a sound reproducing device carried by said car; a car control including means operable to decelerate the car as it approaches any floor; a plurality of floor sound records, one for each floor; recordselecting means automatically actuated in response to the car decelerating operation for any floor to select the floor record corresponding to such fioor; and impulse transmitting means for reproducing the subject-matter of the selective record through said sound reproducing device.

6. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving a plurality of floors; a sound reproducing device carried by said car; a car control including means operable to decelerate the car as it approaches any floor; a plurality of floor sound records, one for each floor; record-selecting means automatically actuated in response to the car decelerating operation for any floor to select the floor record corresponding to such floor; and impulse transmitting means automatically actuated in response to the car decelerating operation for reproducing the subject-matter of the selected record through said sound reproducing device.

7. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving a plurality of floors; a sound reproducing device carried by said car; a car control including means operable to decelerate the car as it approaches any floor; a plurality of floor sound records, one for each floor; a pair of direction sound records, one for up movement of the car and the other for down movement of the car; record-selecting means automatically actuated to select the floor record corresponding to any floor for which car-decelerating operation has been initiated and for selecting a direction record corresponding to the direction in which the car will proceed away from such floor; and impulse transmitting means for first reproducing the subject-matter of the selected fioor record and then the subject-matter of the selected direction record through'said sound reproducing device.

8. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving a plurality of floors; a sound reproducing device carried by said car; a car control including means operable to decelerate the car as it approaches any floor; a plurality of floor sound records, one for each floor; a pair of direction sound records, one for up movement of the car and the other for down movement of the car; record-selecting means automatically actuated to select the floor record corresponding to any floor for which car-decelating operation has been initiated and for selecting a direction record corresponding to the direction in which the car will proceed away from such floor; and impulse transmitting means automatically actuated in response to the car decelerating operation for first reproducing the subject-matter of the selected floor record and then the subject-matter of the selected direction record through said sound reproducing device.

9. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving a plurality of floors; a sound reproducing device carried by said car; a car control including means operable to stop the car at any floor; a plurality of floor sound records, one for each floor; a pair of direction sound records, one for up movement of the car and the other for down movement of the car; record-selecting means automatically actuated to select the floor record corresponding to any floor for which car-stopping operation has been initiated and for selecting a direction record corresponding to the direction in which the car will proceed away from such floor; impulse transmitting means for first reproducing the subjectmatter of the selected floor record and then the subject-matter of the selected direction record through said sound reproducing device; and means for rendering said reproducing device inactive with respect to the selected fioor record immediately prior to the operation of said reproducing device with respect to the selected direction record and for maintaining said reproducing device inactive with respect to the selected floor record during its period of activity with respect to the selected direction record.

10. In an elevator control and annunciator system; an elevator car serving a plurality of floors; a sound reproducing device carried by said car; a car control including means operable to decelerate the car as it approaches any floor; a plurality of floor sound records. one for each floor; a pair of direction sound records, one for up movement of the car and the other for down movement of the car; record-selecting means auto matically actuated to select the fioor record corresponding to any floor for which car decelerating operation has been initiated and for selecting a direction record corresponding to the direction in which the car will proceed away from such floor; impulse transmitting means for first reproducing the subject-matter of the selected floor record and then the subject-matter of the selected direction record through said sound reproducing device; and means for rendering said reproducing device inactive with respect to the selected floor record immediately prior to the operation of said reproducing device with respect to the selected direction record and for maintaining said reproducing device inactive with respect to the selected floor record during its period of activity with respect to the selected direction record.

one of said floors, an impulse transmitting means automatically actuated in response to the car stopping operation for said given floor for reproducing the subject-matter of said record through said sound reproducing device.

12. In an elevator control and annunciator system, an elevator car serving a plurality of floors, a sound reproducing device carried by said car, a car control including means operable to decelerate the car as it approaches'any floor, a sound record peculiar to a given one of said floors, and impulse transmitting means automatically actuated in response to the car-decelerating operation for said given floor for reproducing the subject-matter of said record through said sound reproducing device. v a

13. In an elevator control and annunciator system, an elevator car serving a plurality of floors, a sound reproducing device carried by said car, a car control including means operable to stop the car at any fioor, a floor record for a given one of said floors, a direction record, impulse transmitting means automatically actuated in response to the car-stopping operation for said given floor for first reproducing the subject-matter of said floor record and then the subject-matter of said direction record through said sound reproducing device, and means for rendering said reproducing device inactive with respect to said floor record immediately prior to the operation of said' reproducing device with respect to said direction record and-for maintaining said reproducing device inactive with respect to said our record during its period of activity with res tion record.

14. In an elevator control and annunciator sysct to said directem, an elevator car serving a plurality of floors, a

ject-matter of said direction record through said sound reproducing device, and means for rendering said reproducing device inactive with respect to said floor record immediately prior to the operation of said reproducing device with respect to said direction record and for maintaining said reproducing device inactive with respect to said floor record during its period of activity with respect to said direction record.

WILIJAM C. MILES. 

